Still have no sense of smell

[TheChild]

I had coronavirus nearly 4 months ago, completely lost my sense of smell which affected my taste.

I thought my sense of smell would have come back, but whilst there has been a small improvement it's still not there.

I can smell something if it's very, very strong but only initially. For example if I spray perfume, I can smell it for a few seconds and then it's gone.

I know I'm very lucky to have come through coronavirus relatively unaffected when so many people have lost their lives, I was just wondering if there were other people who were the same? It's certainly not the end of the world, and in my house at times can be a blessing! But I really miss being able to smell nice candles, or when DP is making something delicious for dinner, or the smell of my favourite perfume. I'm starting to get worried it will never come back

Hi op, I’m the same!! Was covid positive at the beginning of Nov. I can smell some but not all things. It’s like a dumb downed sense of smell! I’m sick of burning pans. My memory is shot at too.

The OP inadvertently posted this thread twice so we've taken down the other one and we're giving this one a bump.

My colleague can taste and smell nothing after nearly 14 months. I really hope you're improves.

*yours

Mine went in February, (taste as well), then returned but only partially, really frustrating!

Hi OP I had covid back in March last year and have had long covid. I still have no sense of smell at all in just one nostril, it's almost as if it's been switched off completely, I don't feel that it will come back. The other one is ok.

So sorry other people are going through the same. I was very lucmy that my case of covid was very mild, and I have my taste back to normal which is a relief. I just want to be able to smell again. I really hope it does come back but after so long, I don't know how likely that will be.

I had covid over a year ago (March 2020) and have a very limited sense of smell. I either can't smell at all, or if I do it is distorted - started off as a sulphur type smell, but seems to be more a burning smell currently. Have had camera in nose and an MRI but drs say no obvious cause. No idea if it'll return. It can be quite frustrating at times. My taste is also affected by certain foods. I'm surprised how common it seems to be but how little it's reported.

This doesn't help at all but I got some kind of cold almost 10 years ago now and lost my sense of smell/taste. I used to get it back for a little while after I had been ill (no idea why!) but even being ill now doesn't help, I can very rarely ever taste or smell at all. A couple of seconds every few months maybe. I really hope with so many people having this issue now there will be more research and treatments developed.

I've had very little sense of smell since catching covid in January. My GP tried giving me a cortisone spray, didn't make the slightest bit of difference. I now am trying to retrain my nose with blind testing essential oils. I'm getting better at recognising them, some are easier than others, some I cannot identify at all. On the plus side I can't smell my DDog, so he's getting extra snuggles and fewer baths.

Hi I’m on a couple of Facebook groups with 30k plus members all reporting the same . I had Covid back in March 2020 and I have had no sense of smell or taste since, I did have a long spell of Parosmia ( smell distortion) during that time.

Steroid nasal spray had no impact , smell training the same.

Pretty rubbish really.

I meant to say, I was close to cooking and serving a leg of lamb at Easter which was completely off, though well in date. Luckily my friend was with me and nearly keeled over at the smell. I couldn’t smell a thing.

6 Family members had Covid in Dec 2020. Four months on and one says everything smells of rotten veg. One still can't really smell or taste much and is suffering fatigue and one is still suffering from breathlessness & fatigue

@cushioncovers the rotting veg is a very common smell for Parosmia, as is smoke and as I called it ‘bin smell’. I was astounded when I joined the groups on Facebook how many people are affected.

@Tempnamelady

Hi I’m on a couple of Facebook groups with 30k plus members all reporting the same . I had Covid back in March 2020 and I have had no sense of smell or taste since, I did have a long spell of Parosmia ( smell distortion) during that time.

Steroid nasal spray had no impact , smell training the same.

Pretty rubbish really.

Can you link to the groups please? I've tried searching on Facebook but not found anything

I haven’t read through the replies but I heard a radio interview the other day talking about research into smell training. It maybe something to look into OP.